CANFIELD TOWNSHIP Upscale homes planned for rezoned area

By JEANNE STARMACK VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER CANFIELD -- The Canfield Township Zoning Commission has approved a zone change for a planned development of upscale homes off U.S. Route 224. In a unanimous decision Thursday, the panel agreed to recommend the change to the township trustees for about 18 acres south of Route 224 between Raccoon and Summit roads. The residential area would be zoned PUD for planned unit developments. The land is in two parcels, with 11 acres owned by Bill and Eileen Pakula. Developer Ken Zuzik with KPZ Inc. owns the other seven, said township zoning inspector Dave Morrison. Morrison said KPZ Inc. will own the entire 18 acres when the development gets under way. Morrison said the Mahoning County Planning Commission approved the zone change June 28 on the condition that the development be restricted to residences only. The next step is for the trustees to vote on the change at their meeting Sept. 12. They will schedule a hearing on it at 6 p.m., before the regular meeting at 7. Morrison said the vote is for the zone change only, not for approval of the PUD itself. He said the PUD plan has to come back before the zoning panel and the trustees. New development In a planned unit development, roads are private. A homeowners association helps with maintenance, and Morrison said PUDs help the township retain longtime residents and empty-nesters who decide they prefer a low-maintenance lifestyle. He said PUDs conserve land, because more houses are built on less acreage. He said the developments are still required to offer green space equaling 20 percent. The new development, which would be called Abbey Road, would have about 3.4 units per acre, he said. Homeowners would buy their lots, with some restrictions within the plan still set by a homeowners association. Houses will start at around $230,000. Six styles will be named for a Beatles theme -- the Lennon, Harrison, Sergeant Pepper, McCartney, Eleanor Rigby and Ringo. Morrison said the development could get final approval in two or three months.